JOM STAY YOUNG FOREVER ^_^ 6 Foods that Enhance Collagen Production Collagen is a protein that combines with keratin and elastin to make your skin strong and elastic. As you age, the production of collagen in your body also slows down. This results to the aging of the skin, which is characterized by signs like thinning, wrinkles, lines, age spots and dullness. Collagen simply cannot enter the body through your skin. Instead, it needs to be produced inside the body. Here are some foods that you might want to add to your diet if you wish to boost your collagen production. 1. Garlic Garlic is a good source of sulfur which is necessary to produce collagen in your body. Garlic also contains large amounts of lipoic acid and taurine, which are essential for rebuilding damaged collagen fibers. When cooking pasta, soup, meats and other dishes, be sure to add plenty of garlic. 2. Soy Products Cheese, soy milk and other products made from soy contain genistein – a substance that helps in collagen production and battling skin aging. If you wish to keep those skin aging signs at bay, eat plenty of soy products, including those that are used to substitute for meat. 3. Tomatoes You probably know that tomatoes contain a great amount of lycopene. What you don’t know is that lycopene helps fight collagenases. Collagenases are basically enzymes that destroy the collagen in your body. To make the most of tomatoes, it’s better to cook them than eat them raw. Stew or grill vegetables, or make your own tomato sauce for pasta. 4. Dark Green Vegetables Leafy greens and other green vegetables are known for their high nutritional content. As if that wasn’t enough reason to consume them, dark green veggies have also been found to contain agents which help in collagen production. Some examples of the vegetables you can enjoy are spinach, asparagus and kale. Not only do they help in the production of collagen, but they also help your body use this protein more effectively. 5. Foods Rich in Omega-3 Omega-3 is a fatty acid which is considered to be a good fat. Unfortunately, a lot of people do not get enough Omega-3 with their diet. Instead, they end up consuming excessive amounts of bad fats. Omega-3 promotes smooth, supple and soft skin so you might want to consume it regularly. Omega-3 is found in most cold water fish like tuna, salmon and mackerel. If you don’t eat fish, you can sprinkle flax seeds in your meals instead or take supplements of flax seed oils. 6. Red Fruits and Vegetables Aside from tomatoes, red fruits and vegetables are also considered good sources of lycopene. Beets and red peppers make tasty additions to your diet. Aside from lycopene, these red natural foods also contain plenty of antioxidants which promote collagen and battle other signs of aging.
Posted on: Mon, 19 Aug 2013 07:54:01 +0000
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